Weekend cricket friendly round-up

BODIAM V ETCHINGHAM
Ben Newman bowls for Battle during their 192-run loss to neighbours Robertsbridge on Saturday. Picture by Steve Hunnisett (eh22017b)Ben Newman bowls for Battle during their 192-run loss to neighbours Robertsbridge on Saturday. Picture by Steve Hunnisett (eh22017b)
Ben Newman bowls for Battle during their 192-run loss to neighbours Robertsbridge on Saturday. Picture by Steve Hunnisett (eh22017b)

Bodiam continued their winning start to their season of Sunday friendly cricket matches with a four-wicket Etchingham in a low scoring, but nevertheless tense 40-overs-per-side affair.

After Bodiam won the toss and invited Etchingham to have first knock, opening bowlers Mark Freeman (0-8 from eight overs) and Richard Reardon (0-5 from five overs) kept things extremely tight, conceding just 11 runs from the first 11 overs.

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Etchingham eventually posted 115-6 led by skipper J. Heath, who showed great patience and skill in compiling his 55. Bodiam used a total of nine bowlers during the innings, the pick of whom were Julian Hanshaw (2-5), Will Foster (1-19), Stumpy Dixon (1-19) and Badger Courts (1-8).

Bodiam slumped to 22-5 in reply with M. Neve, who claimed 4-12 from eight overs, the chief destroyer. Corner Carpets man of the match Reardon (58) was joined by Sam Constable (29 not out) and they set about rebuilding the Bodiam run chase.

Both players curbed their natural instinct to attack as they edged the team towards victory. Reardon was out with the score on 111, but Will Foster (1 not out) joined Constable and saw Bodiam over the line for the loss of six wickets.

BECKLEY V WINCHELSEA

Winchelsea triumphed by 47 runs in a high scoring 12-a-side friendly away to Beckley on Bank Holiday Monday.

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After being asked to bat, Winchelsea got off to a steady start with James Hamilton punishing anything off line and length. Roger Tidyman (10) fell with the score on 44 in the seventh over, but Hamilton continued attacking the bowling and took Winchelsea to 100 before departing for 75.

This yet again resulted in the younger batsmen coming to the crease and putting Winchelsea in a strong position. Ben Clifton (45) hit the ball hard before being

bowled by Jack Dudley (1-42).

Tom Nunn (40 not out) and Harry Smeed (62 not out) then joined together in a partnership of 98 to move Winchelsea to 275-4 at tea. The other Beckley wicket-takers were Ross Pierce, Charlie Dudley and Tony Goodsell.

The Winchelsea opening attack claimed early wickets for few runs as Mike Stoneham held two sharp catches in his first match for the club. Wickets continued to fall steadily as the Beckley batsmen were unable to compile large scores.

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This was until Craig Pierce swung bat at ball on his way to 120 which helped salvage the Beckley innings as a large defeat was in sight. With Pierce at the crease, the match could have gone either way only for opening bowlers Tom Nunn (3-55) and Harry Smeed (6-37) brought the Beckley innings to a close on 228.

ASHBURNHAM V BEXHILL

Ashburnham were edged out by one run in a their first dry match of the season at home to Bexhill.

Neil Blatchly (50 retired) and Malcolm Johnson (55 retired) got Bexhill off to an excellent start against Jack Munro and Mike Parker followed by an elegant 18 from young Ben Phillimore.

James Bywater (3-26) and Robbie Pagan (2-57) bowled well for Ashburnham, but the highlight of the innings, surely, was the run out of Will Edwards by Bernie Baker. Parker and Baker claimed a wicket apiece with Bexhill finishing on 184 all out at tea.

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James Pilbeam (45) and Munro (46) led Ashburnham’s reply followed by Sam Baker (10), Bywater (10 from four deliveries) and once again Bernie Baker with 21 from 19 balls.

Needing 13 off the last over with the last pair at the wicket, number 11 Robbie Pagan struck the first ball for four and then nabbed a single to put Bernie Baker on strike. The skipper then hit a six, but Bexhill took the last wicket on the final ball of the match to win by one run.

The pick of the bowlers were Eddie Lemmon (5-34) and Phillimore (3-32). Sam Garland (1-10 off seven overs with five maidens) and Josh Beeslee (1-26 off eight) also bowled very well.